A glimpse of Nothing OS. Nothing Launcher (Beta) is here.

Rudi

I know you’ve been waiting for more details on phone (1). Some of you have even asked to be Beta testers.

We’re delighted to share our Nothing Launcher (Beta) with you. The very first peak into Nothing (OS). And we want your feedback to better the next iterations.

Available for the Samsung S21, S22, Google Pixel 5 and 6 series (OnePlus coming soon, I promise).

Preview graphics and animations unified by our distinctive (and, let’s be honest, super cool) design language, plus:

Max Icons and Max Folders: A new experience for Android. Hold and press to enlarge app folders or individual apps, so the things you use the most are more visible. Launch any app directly from your folders. Max cool, huh?
Bespoke Clock & Weather widgets: Raw tech, balanced by human warmth. These widgets use the same dot matrix font as our logo. Wear Nothing from head to toe.
Nothing Wallpaper & Style: Update your home screen with the Nothing wallpaper and matching colour palette. Co-ords are very trendy these days.

Wait. There’s more. We’re giving you bonus content you can download here:

Two more exclusive wallpapers: Two wallpapers in addition to the wallpaper in Launcher (Beta).
Original ringtones: Try 3 custom ringtones. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

Can’t wait? Here’s how to get it:

Step 1: Download the Nothing Launcher (Beta) via the Google Play Store
Step 2: Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Default Home App
Step 3: Select Nothing Launcher

You should know by now that a launcher without your feedback is nothing. So join the conversation and please let us know what you think. You can either:

Place your feature requests in the Future Ideas section of our forums (one request per topic, please)
Join our Discord server and post your feedback on 📱⎮launcher-feedback
Compose an email to launcher@nothing.tech. Yes, compose. Emails are so old-school.

This is the most important bit: include step-by-step details, phone model, OS version and screenshots/recordings so our team can replicate your experience for testing and troubleshooting.

Don’t forget to retweet the release to let friends and family know about this window into our OS. Link is here.

Ready to blast off? (see what I’ve done there? Launcher, launch, blast off. I’m so good.) 🚀

Sib64

Rudi
Well done, Congrats at whole staff for his work with a timeline which has been respected.
It’s the first step before the phone !
I’m looking forward to test the OnePlus version…

Thanks again

Thread created on XDA website : https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/nothing-launcher-beta.4438513/

arpan2308

Congrats team….initial reactions are looking great. A nice sneak peak in whats in store with phone(1). Launcher looks unique (particularly widgets) while maintaining the plain vanilla android heart. Even more excited for phone(1) now. Summer is Coming !!!!

Ghost

How to install Nothing Launcher (Beta)

Pyrodox

I found the apk for my OnePlus 8T. It was hassle. Won’t be sharing it. Only for test purpose. My developer inside couldn’t wait for long 🤣

Oliver

Congratulations team Nothing.

Developing a product by working together with the community is the best way to make outstanding products. The team at Nothing has delivered a solid basis with the Launcher Beta, now it´s our turn to tell them what adjustments we want to see to make it perfect for every single one of us. So to everyone in the community keep up the great work just like you have done from the beginning on.

Can´t wait for phone (1)

Rob ⚡️

Love to see this! Enjoy taking part in the beta everyone! So nice to have the brand/fonts/widgets on our devices finally!

adbo

This is looking really good! Happy with the way things are progressing and the community get the opportunity to input their feedback and have their voice heard which is great. Perhaps a nice glimpse into the Phone (1) design language!

Surya_8055

A big step towards the success. I’m seeing the pics and videos of the launcher. It’s very cool. I can’t wait to use it on my OnePlus.

Louis ☕️

Amazing stuff! Pleased to finally see the widgets everywhere and hear everyone’s thoughts. Already seeing a lot of positive ideas to progress the experience even further 👏 Well done to the team on this launcher so far!

Ankit Gondalia

Not yet available officially for my android device but managed to sideload apk. Launcher is quite minimal with a few customisation options & close to stock feel.

MarioSchlosser

It said so in the announcement, but I tried it out anyway, and I’m sad to report that it indeed doesn’t work for Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3… looking forward to hopefully seeing it soon!

Sib64

@Rudi
Here are some links from sites that describe the Nothing Launcher :
https://www.androidsage.com/2022/04/28/download-nothing-launcher-apk-from-nothing-phone-1/

https://www.androidpolice.com/nothing-launcher-here-big-icons/

https://www.xda-developers.com/nothing-launcher-beta-play-store/#comment

https://m.gsmarena.com/nothing_releases_beta_launcher_on_the_play_store-news-54134.php

https://www.phonearena.com/news/nothing-launcher-available-for-pixel-galaxy-phones_id139899?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1651183034

and 2 french websites

https://www.frandroid.com/android/applications/personnalisation/1316331_nothing-lance-son-lanceur-dapps-compatible-avec-dautres-smartphones-android

https://www.lesnumeriques.com/telephone-portable/en-attendant-le-phone-1-on-a-essaye-le-launcher-nothing-n181611.html

Sayan_Dutta

Sib64 Thanks, Sib! Super Useful.

JDLC

Looking good! Love the bonus content!

WilliamZimmer

Oh so i looked at the social media to see what people are saying about the OS, and for 90% of people it’s really bad.

Most of them point out that it’s just another AOSP skin that arrives 10 years late with no special feature. It’s sad to see the testers react this way, and maybe shows nothing should have kept it only for the members of the community until it can truly deliver something special :/ maybe it’s too soon.

Maybe Nothing should address the issues on social media. I know a lot of journalists here that are already trash talking Nothing behind the scenes. I didn’t meet a single one that was excited by it as of now :/ How could nothing solve that ?

Sayan_Dutta

WilliamZimmer I suppose adding the settings page would prematurely reveal some of the features that they might have developed. Not disagreeing that the skin is barebones and doesn’t add any useful features so to speak of.

I personally think the approach is right in keeping the OS burden free and rather woking on under the hood changes, smoothness and animation engine.

Sib64

I agree with what is written by WilliamZimmer and Sayan_Dutta .
People who have come to test post negative reviews because to them it’s just a pale copy of an AOSP launcher. Some are already criticizing the fact that the Nothing Phone will be nothing more or less than a mix between Pixel and OnePlus. In short, not exactly happy.

But I think that those who write this are :

people who couldn’t install it on their smartphones,
who have tried, but the launcher is not yet adapted to their smartphones
or Fanboys of another brand

What they forget is that the launcher is not everything and that this is only the 1st Beta version, but they need to have all faster.
But this does not mean that we should forget all the positive opinions and constructive bug reports. This is a good thing and is more positive than the negative opinions which are not really constructive overall.

cristian

need wider support. Please add older pixels

Sib64

cristian
Everyone need a support for his phone.
I’m looking forward to the OP version, and I think the development team is under a lot of pressure, given the number of smartphones supported.
Well done for their work and it’s not really finished.